U.S. Trade Court Blocks Trump Tariffs, Citing Overreach of Presidential Authority
A U.S. trade court has ruled against former President Donald Trump's sweeping tariffs, blocking them from taking effect and declaring that he exceeded his legal authority by imposing blanket duties on imports from countries with trade surpluses against the United States.
The Court of International Trade found that the U.S. Constitution grants Congress exclusive power to regulate international commerce, and that this authority is not overridden by the president’s emergency powers aimed at protecting the economy.
“The court does not rule on whether using tariffs as leverage is wise or effective,” the panel of three judges wrote. “The issue is not the policy itself, but the fact that [federal law] does not authorize the president to use it in this way.”
In response, the Trump administration quickly filed an appeal, challenging the court’s authority. The filing stated:
“Notice is hereby given that defendants appeal to the United States Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit from the court’s opinion and final judgment of 28 May 2025.”
The Court of International Trade, located in Manhattan, handles disputes over international trade and customs laws. Its decisions can be appealed to the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit in Washington, D.C., and potentially to the U.S. Supreme Court.
Tariffs were a central feature of Mr. Trump's trade strategy, which included placing duties on imports from key trading partners. These policies sparked global trade disruptions and volatility in financial markets. Many businesses—large and small—have struggled to adapt to the rapidly changing trade landscape, facing uncertainty in supply chains, pricing, and hiring.
A spokesperson for the White House defended the tariffs, calling U.S. trade deficits a “national emergency” that have “decimated American communities, left our workers behind and weakened our defence industrial base—facts that the court did not dispute.”
“It is not for unelected judges to decide how to properly address a national emergency,” said Kush Desai, the spokesperson, in a statement.
Meanwhile, the Taoiseach of Ireland commented on the ruling, saying it is “too early to say” whether the decision will benefit Ireland or the wider European Union.